The controversy surrounding Aligarh Muslim University has been planted by vested interests and it is being raked up keeping elections in mind, feels Professor Seyed E. Hasnain, Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, a deemed-to-be university in Delhi started by Hamdard Foundation.
"In 1938 when his portrait was put up, Jinnah was an Indian person. And if you are so paranoid about his photo, remove it from everywhere—from Bombay High Court and Sabarmati Ashram as well," said Professor Hasnain in an exclusive interview to THE WEEK. Hasnain is a Padmashri awardee and was a member of the scientific advisory council to the prime minister from 2004 to 2014.
The AMU found in the middle of a storm after a BJP MP demanded that the portrait of the Pakistan founder be removed from the university.
"I understand that he (Jinnah) is being made villain for the two nation theory, but the point is that the other side had also agreed. Gandhiji agreed and so did Nehru. Most of all, why make fuss about an 80-year-old thing?," he asked.
Jamia Hamdard is a minority university with 50 per cent reservation for Muslims. The university now plans to increase the number of students on its campus and has various other expansion plans, too. As of now, it is partly funded by the Hamdard National Foundation and partly through internal accruals. "Our last year's budget was Rs 100 crore but we expect it to go up further this year. To meet the increased expenses, we are trying out various ways to capitalise on our resources," said the vice-chancellor
The university is trying to get more collaborations with industry for setting up research facilities. It already has GSK and Sun Pharma on the campus. It is also trying to get support from its wide alumni base. "We have never tapped our alumni pool. At places like IIT Delhi, there is a very vibrant alumni support system. We would like to have that. Dr Manu Jaggi, the chief scientific officer of Dabur research, is our alumnus, so is the Syrian ambassador and there are many others," said Prof Hasnain.
Jamia Hamdard has so far been known for its medical school—both Unani and modern medicine—and some of its science courses, but it now wants to offer humanities as well. The university has got board approval to start a full-fledged school of humanities and social sciences.
Under the government's scheme on Institutions of Eminence, the university had applied and is now among the 102 that have been shortlisted. There will be further shortlisting and finalising of 10 universities in private and 10 universities in public space.
It currently has a seven acre campus in Kannur, Kerala and has plans to open campuses in Kashmir and Bihar.